scholarly journals A Case Study on a Stochastic-Based Optimisation Approach towards the Integration of Photovoltaic Panels in Multi-Residential Social Housing

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7615
Author(s):  
Rui Oliveira ◽  
Ricardo M.S.F. Almeida ◽  
António Figueiredo ◽  
Romeu Vicente
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Social Housing ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Photovoltaic System ◽  
Occupancy Rate ◽  
Optimal Sizing ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact

The socioeconomic reality and the energy retrofit potential of the social housing neighbourhoods in Portugal are stimulating challenges to be addressed by research to pursue suitable energy efficient strategies to be integrated into these buildings. Therefore, this study explored a stochastic-based optimisation approach towards the integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels, considering different scenarios that combine the occupancy rate, the internal gains, the envelope refurbishment and the heating system efficiency. The optimisation approach has as its objective the minimisation of the life cycle cost of the photovoltaic system while using a limited space area on the rooftop for its installation. This study allowed concluding that the use of passive measures such as improving the thermal performance of the building envelope is essential to attain a lower optimal-sizing of a photovoltaic installation. The results reveal a decreasing trend in the PV optimal sizing, attaining a reduction up to 30% of the total number of PV panels installed on the sloped rooftop in several scenarios with 50% of occupancy rate. However, the impact can be greater when passive measures are coupled to more efficient heating systems, with higher COP, which result in a decrease up to 64% of the number of PV panels. Thus, the approach proposed is of paramount importance to aid in the decision-making process of design and sizing of photovoltaic installation, highlighting the practical application potential for social housing and a contribution for mitigation of the energy poverty of low-income families that live in these buildings.

Demonstrating Nutrient Cost Gradients: A Brooklyn Case Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Karp ◽  
Gary Wong ◽  
Marguerite Orsi
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Caloric Density ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Significant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were significantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.

Monitoring the Impact of Family Health Benefits for Low-Income Families

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trish Livingstone ◽  
Lisa Lix ◽  
Mary McNutt ◽  
Evan Morris ◽  
William Osei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals “You run out of hope:” An Exploration of Low-Income Parents’ Experiences with Food Insecurity using Photovoice

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Payge Lindow ◽  
Irene H. Yen ◽  
Mingyu Xiao ◽  
Cindy W. Leung
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Unhealthy Eating ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Objective: Using an adaption of the Photovoice method, this study explored how food insecurity affected parents’ ability to provide food for their family, their strategies for managing household food insecurity, and the impact of food insecurity on their well-being. Design: Parents submitted photos around their families’ experiences with food insecurity. Afterwards, they completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews about their photos. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed for thematic content using the constant comparative method. Setting: San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Subjects: 17 parents (14 mothers and 3 fathers) were recruited from a broader qualitative study on understanding the experiences of food insecurity in low-income families. Results: Four themes were identified from the parents’ photos and interviews. First, parents described multiple aspects of their food environment that promoted unhealthy eating behaviors. Second, parents shared strategies they employed to acquire food with limited resources. Third, parents expressed feelings of shame, guilt, and distress resulting from their experience of food insecurity. And finally, parents described treating their children to special foods to cultivate a sense of normalcy. Conclusions: Parents highlighted the external contributors and internal struggles of their experiences of food insecurity. Additional research to understand the experiences of the food-insecure families may help to improve nutrition interventions targeting this structurally vulnerable population.

scholarly journals Dampak Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) terhadap Kesejahteraan Keluarga di Desa Padang Seurahet Kecamatan Johan Pahlawan Kabupaten Aceh Barat

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Lia Muliana ◽  
Mursyidin Mursyidin ◽  
Muharriyanti Siregar
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Family Welfare ◽  
Transfer Program ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Social Significance ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Family ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The Family Hope Program (PKH) is a conditional cash transfer program for low-income families. The requirement is to be actively involved in education and health. The Family Hope Program in Indonesia was implemented in 2007 to alleviate poverty and prosper low-income families. The research and writing of this journal aim to determine the impact of PKH on family welfare and see if there is a reduction in poverty after the government realizes the Family Hope Program. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The study results indicate that the impact of PKH on beneficiary families, including the cash provided, can meet consumption or family needs and help the economy of PKH recipient families. The implementation of the program can reduce poverty in Aceh. The percentage of the poverty rate fell to 0.02%. The limitation of the research is the impact of PKH on family welfare and wants to examine whether there is a decrease in the percentage of poverty in Aceh or Aceh Barat. The practical implication of this research is to provide information to the government that PKH can improve the welfare of low-income families. The social significance is to give the government and the general public that the implementation of social assistance programs, one of which is the Family Hope Program, can reduce poverty rates in Aceh or West Aceh. The originality of the research is supported by previous research related to the author’s research study.

Participant Perceptions of Character Concepts in a Physical Activity–Based Positive Youth Development Program

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaina Riciputi ◽  
Meghan H. McDonough ◽  
Sarah Ullrich-French
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Character Development ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact

Physical activity–based positive youth development (PYD) programs often aim to foster character development. This study examined youth perspectives of character development curricula and the impact these activities have on their lives within and beyond the program. This case study examined youth from low-income families in a physical activity–based summer PYD program that integrated one character concept (respect, caring, responsibility, trust) in each of 4 weeks. Participants (N = 24) included a cross section of age, gender, ethnicity, and past program experience. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis and constant comparative methods. Thirteen themes were grouped in four categories: building highquality reciprocal relationships; intrapersonal improvement; moral reasoning and understanding; and rejection, resistance, and compliance. The findings provide participant-centered guidance for understanding youth personal and social development through physical activity in ways that are meaningful to participants, which is particularly needed for youth in low-income communities with limited youth programming.

scholarly journals Climate shocks and human capital: The impact of the natural disasters of 2010 in Colombia on student achievement

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (79) ◽  
pp. 303-328
Author(s):  
Mauricio Giovanni Valencia Amaya
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Climate Shocks ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates the impact of the unprecedented climate shocks of the 2010 in Colombia on the results of the Saber 11 standardized test for the 2010- 2012 period. By using two unique datasets, this paper contributes to the literature by providing a better estimate of the human capital costs of climate shocks. The findings indicate that the climate shocks occurred on 2010 decreased Saber 11 test scores. The impact was stronger for female students, students from rural areas and students from low-income families. A possible channel of transmission is identified: the destruction of schools.

Precarious Childhoods: Childhood Family Income Volatility and Mental Health in Early Adulthood

Social Forces ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 672-699
Author(s):  
Siwei Cheng ◽  
Kyriaki Kosidou ◽  
Bo Burström ◽  
Charlotte Björkenstam ◽  
Anne R Pebley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Income Distribution ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Income Volatility ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The rise of income volatility in western countries has been extensively documented in the literature, but empirical research has just started to examine how childhood exposure to family income volatility affects subsequent wellbeing. This study takes advantage of several nation-wide, population registers from Sweden with linkages within and across generations to examine the intergenerational impact of childhood family income volatility on psychiatric disorders in early adulthood. In addition to the population-average effects, we also examine the heterogeneity in the impact of family income volatility for families at the top, bottom, and middle of the family income distribution. Our results suggest that after controlling for a set of family- and child-level characteristics, childhood family income volatility has a negative effect on mental wellbeing, and this finding is consistent across a range of psychiatric outcomes. Furthermore, we show that while children from low-income families exhibit the greatest likelihood of psychiatric disorder, children from families in the middle of the income distribution experience the greatest negative impact of income volatility.

scholarly journals Optimal Sizing of Standalone Photovoltaic System Using Improved Performance Model and Optimization Algorithm

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2233
Author(s):  
Tamer Khatib ◽  
Dhiaa Halboot Muhsen
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Performance Model ◽  
Photovoltaic System ◽  
Optimal Solutions ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Optimal Sizing ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Improved Performance

A standalone photovoltaic system mainly consists of photovoltaic panels and battery bank. The use of such systems is restricted mainly due to their high initial costs. This problem is alleviated by optimal sizing as it results in reliable and cost-effective systems. However, optimal sizing is a complex task. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been shown to be effective in PV system sizing. This paper presents an AI-based standalone PV system sizing method. Differential evolution multi-objective optimization is used to find the optimal balance between system’s reliability and cost. Two objective functions are minimized, the loss of load probability and the life cycle cost. A numerical algorithm is used as a benchmark for the proposed method’s speed and accuracy. Results indicate that the AI algorithm can be successfully used in standalone PV systems sizing. The proposed method was roughly 27 times faster than the numerical method. Due to AI algorithm’s random nature, the proposed method resulted in the exact optimal solution in 6 out of 12 runs. Near-optimal solutions were found in the other six runs. Nevertheless, the nearly optimal solutions did not introduce major departure from optimal system performance, indicating that the results of the proposed method are practically optimal at worst.

scholarly journals Exploring the relationship between housing concerns, mental health and wellbeing: a qualitative study of social housing tenants

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. e231-e238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Holding ◽  
Lindsay Blank ◽  
Mary Crowder ◽  
Edward Ferrari ◽  
Elizabeth Goyder
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Housing ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Housing Quality ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The rising prevalence of mental health problems is a growing public health issue. Poor mental health is not equally distributed across social groups and is associated with poverty and insecure housing. An evaluation of a social housing intervention provided an opportunity to explore the connections between housing and wider determinants of health and wellbeing. Methods We undertook 44 interviews with social housing tenants over a two-year period to explore their views on housing, health and wellbeing. Results Poor mental health was common. The results suggest that perceptions of housing quality, service responsiveness, community safety, benefit changes and low income all have a detrimental effect on tenants’ mental health. Conclusions Social housing providers who wish to have a positive impact on the mental health of their tenants need to consider how to best support or mitigate the impact of these stresses. Addressing traditional housing officer functions such as reporting or monitoring home repairs alongside holistic support remains an important area where social housing departments can have substantial health impact. Tackling the complex nature of mental health requires a joined up approach between housing and a number of services.

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